Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Heavyweight

1. Cain
Velasquez (9-0)
The hope was that Velasquez would make the first defense of his UFC
heavyweight title in April or May against Junior dos Santos.
However, rehab did not mend his torn rotator cuff, and surgery
became a necessity. The American Kickboxing Academy product now
appears to be on track for a Nov. 19 title tilt with “Cigano” in
San Jose, Calif.

2. Junior dos
Santos (13-1)
Dos Santos took a chance, and it paid off. Instead of sitting on
the shelf while UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez recuperated
from shoulder surgery, No. 1 contender “Cigano” took a June 11 bout
with Shane Carwin, a replacement for original opponent Brock
Lesnar. The Brazilian boxed his way to a unanimous decision win,
taking Carwin the distance for the first time in his career and
keeping his trajectory for his Nov. 19 showdown with Velasquez.

3. Alistair
Overeem (35-11, 1 NC)
Overeem looked like he might be on his way to winning the
Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix. However, all of a sudden,
Overeem was no longer Strikeforce champion or under Strikeforce
employ. For now, the focus will be repairing relations between
Overeem's management, Golden Glory, and Zuffa to allow for "The
Demolition Man" to return to action against elite-level
heavyweights.

4. Fabricio
Werdum (14-5-1)
On June 18, 51 weeks after submitting Fedor Emelianenko in a
shocking upset, Werdum found himself in an entirely different type
of fight. Despite showing flashes of strong standup, the Brazilian
spent much of his Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix quarterfinal
attempting to pull guard and lure Alistair Overeem into his realm.
The Dutchman stayed upright for almost the entire bout and did
enough to walk away with a unanimous decision, evening the pair’s
series at 1-1.

5. Brock
Lesnar (5-2)
He has had nearly 12 inches of his colon removed on account of his
latest diverticulitis battle, but Lesnar is about ready to return
to action and is on pace for a return as early as December.
Currently, the opponent of preference is Alistair Overeem, but if
that bout cannot be made, a rubber match with Frank Mir might be
the fight.

6. Shane
Carwin (12-2)
Carwin did not tire as he did in his title fight with Brock Lesnar,
but the massive Coloradoan had little answer for Junior dos Santos’
strong striking in a three-round decision loss on June 11. After
beginning his career with 12 consecutive stoppage wins, Carwin has
now lost two in a row and will need to rebound in his next trip to
the Octagon to stay among the company’s top big men.

7. Frank Mir
(15-5)
His May win over Roy Nelson now already in the rearview mirror, Mir
might soon meet up with an old nemesis. If Zuffa cannot come to
terms with Alistair Overeem for a bout with Brock Lesnar in late
2011 or early 2012, Mir might get his chance to take the trilogy
against Lesnar instead.

8. Antonio
Silva (16-2)
Antonio Silva was preparing for a major fight against Strikeforce
heavyweight grand prix favorite Alistair Overeem. However, the
dissolution of the relationship between Zuffa and Overeem's
management company, Golden Glory, means that the mammoth Brazilian
will have a new semifinal opponent come Sept. 10 -- two-time
Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier.

9. Josh Barnett
(30-5)
Competing for the first time in 11 months, the newly re-nicknamed
“War Master” Barnett simply outclassed Brett Rogers in their June
18 Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix quarterfinal. Awaiting
Barnett in the next round of the tournament on Sept. 10 in
Cincinnati is Russian slugger Sergei Kharitonov, with a spot in the
final on the line.

10. Brendan
Schaub (8-1)
In his last outing in March, Schaub laid waste to a faded star in
Mirko Filipovic. This time, in front of a hostile crowd in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, he will try to do likewise to another aging star
and one of Brazil's fighting idols in former Pride Fighting
Championships and interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo
Nogueira.